Serena Williams has been a prominent figure at the All England Club in the lead-up to Wimbledon, marking her return to singles play after a four-year retirement. Her presence has generated considerable attention, particularly as the women’s draw is considered wide open this year.
Williams, who received the final singles wildcard, has been training extensively. She was seen practicing with Marta Kostyuk, the world No 13, for over an hour, demonstrating her powerful serve. While her movement around the ball and out of the corners still presents a challenge, her ability to strike the ball cleanly and return effectively was evident during practice points.
Her comeback is framed by Williams as an opportunity to share her profession with her children, Olympia and Adira. Olympia has accompanied her mother during practice sessions at Queen’s. Some observers have also pointed to her role as a spokesperson for Ro, a company manufacturing the GLP-1 drug Zepbound, as a potential motivation for her return, noting that the broadcast of her comeback doubles match at Queen’s was sponsored by the company.
Williams’ first singles match will be against Maya Joint of Australia. Joint, at 20 years old, is experiencing a difficult period, having lost 13 of her last 14 matches. Should Williams advance, her potential second-round opponent could be Alexandra Eala, the 29th seed. A third-round encounter could see her face Iga Swiatek, the third seed and defending champion.
Top Players Face Challenges
The WTA tour is currently in a curious phase, with several top players experiencing inconsistent form. Aryna Sabalenka, ranked world number one since October 2024, has shown vulnerability, including a significant collapse in the French Open quarter-finals where she lost the final 10 games. Her Wimbledon preparation also saw her lose a deciding set 6-0 to Jessica Pegula in Berlin.
Coco Gauff is not currently ranked within the top four after an early exit from her title defence at Roland Garros and has historically struggled on grass courts. Both Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek are also not playing at their peak. Mirra Andreeva, the 19-year-old who won her first Grand Slam title at the French Open, is determined to continue her success.
Other players whose games are well-suited to grass, such as Karolina Muchova and Belinda Bencic, could make deep runs. Jessica Pegula is also a contender for a strong performance. However, Amanda Anisimova, last year’s finalist, enters the tournament in poor form due to recent injury struggles. There are also concerns regarding Elina Svitolina, who withdrew from Bad Homburg due to a hip injury.
The Impact of Williams’ Return
The return of Serena Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, has generated significant excitement. Her first competitive singles match since the 2022 US Open will guarantee soaring TV ratings and drive social media into a frenzy. Andy Roddick, a former world number one, commented on Williams’ confidence in choosing Wimbledon for her return after a long absence.
Lindsay Davenport, another American Grand Slam champion, suggested that Williams would only return if she believed she could make an immediate impact. Davenport acknowledged that playing on grass is challenging, particularly for older players, due to the quick and low ball bounce and the physical demands of the surface. However, she also stated that if anyone could succeed under these conditions, it would be Williams.
Since Williams’ last Wimbledon singles title in 2016, there have been eight different first-time champions at the tournament, highlighting the depth in the women’s game. While players like Naomi Osaka, Sabalenka, Swiatek, Gauff, Rybakina, and Ash Barty have won multiple Grand Slam titles, none have achieved the sustained dominance that Williams once held. The last six Grand Slams have been won by six different players.
The Wimbledon draw officially begins next week.
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Source: theguardian.com
Sam Whitlock is a Sports News Writer at News-GB.org. He moved from local newspapers into digital sport. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Gloucestershire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Gloucester, he plays amateur rugby and follows the fight game. “Clarity beats cleverness in breaking sport news.”